Due to the frigid temperatures brought on by Winter Storm Fern, wholesale natural gas prices are experiencing significant upward pressure. To help manage these increased costs, we are asking LRES customers to temporarily reduce their natural gas usage over the next couple of days. Simple steps include lowering your thermostat by a few degrees or limiting hot water use.
LRES secures much of our natural gas supply years in advance at favorable rates based on expected seasonal usage. However, during extreme weather events like this one, usage can exceed those planned amounts. Any additional gas needed must be purchased on the open market, where prices rise sharply as nationwide demand increases—from homes and businesses as well as electric generation facilities.
Please note: This request is not due to system capacity concerns. Our pipelines have sufficient capacity to deliver the gas our customers need. The issue is cost, and these conservation efforts can help lessen the impact on your natural gas bill.
If you have any questions, our customer service team is here to help.
Call us at (866) 367-5732 or text (218) 853-5737.